Sweet Home Alabama

Well folks, Alabama is as hot, humid, and classy as ever. Don't get me wrong. Alabama is beautiful but some of the people...well...bless their heart. I arrived last Wednesday. The instructor pilot course promises to be a challenge but I'm finding it pretty hard to focus on the task at hand because, once again, I'm away from my family. We have been trying so hard to figure out a way to bring them down here for the month of July but there is just no way to make it work without it costing thousands of dollars. We even thought about buying a cheap travel trailer but we'd have no were to put it when we got back home. We've always wanted one but, we've wanted a small one and we couldn't live in a small one for a month. Oh yah, and even the small ones cost a few thousand dollars. The army wont give me a bigger room and they wont pay me to get my own hotel room. Its looking like the best case scenario is for me to drive home for the 4th of July weekend and enjoy two days with them before driving back for another month of being alone.

Cal, are you driving through Alabama?

So, for the curious, here is a sampling of my study material for the next two months.

Its a lot like any other profession. Its just bits of information from exhaustive books on the subjects. When I study, it does help pass the time but its hard knowing that the kids miss me the same, regardless of how busy I can be. Poor Will is so confused about where I live, I've been gone for more than half his life. I tell you what, these are the days that make me want to get out of the service as soon as I possibly and legally can.

The classes are lecture/discussion so its a bit hard to stay awake. My train of thought usually goes something like this "oh I see, the slow relative velosity causes the induced flow to be less affected by the rotational relative wind thus causing the air to strike the blade above chord line...time for some more sunflower seeds...these sure dry out my mouth and my lips...I haven't kissed Laura in five days...I wonder what Laura is doing...I really like our new car...I hope we keep it for a long time...I wonder where we'll be living in five years...Kate will be in Junior High...man i hated Junior High...are there ever any TV shows about kids in Junior High...The wonder Years...that's it...my all time favorite show...I need to find that on DVD...crap, did he jsut explain retreating blade stall" "Um, excuse me, could you explain that again." "I'm way to dumb to be here!"

Now I'm in my room trying to remember all the things I should have listened too in class and will have to read in a boring book so if this is my last post for quite some time, you will understand. I think I want to quit flying and be President for a while. Then I would make it mandatory for families to travel with their soldier. Plus I would mandate bio-diesel for use in all vehicles. I would send Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears to jail. I would also require that "Lost" be played as a continuous movie from start to end in HD and the entire event would be a national holiday!! DOMINO suckers.

Farewell Werewolves

This is a bit late like most of my post will be but worthy of note. The last four years, I've striven so hard to be as good a soldier as the men that surrounded me. I will never be as brave or true as some of them. Two weeks ago they had a farewell lunch for me and, as it turns out, they thought I was pretty swell too. They made this great parting gift for me. I was so honored by the things it says. I can only hope they all know how I feel about them.


Jeremy Averett and Emanuel "Manny" Vero were two of my best friends in the unit. If the bullets are flying and you can hear Manny's voice, you can know in your heart that he is going to take you home. I'll miss you Manny. Bring them home again.

Jeremy, you are the friend that everyone loves to have. Genuine, caring and loyal to the end. I don't know if I'll ever lead an air assault again but if I do, I want you next to me.

Jeremy, Manny, and Me



The Werewolves will be returning to the desert in about a year. I will pray for you all.

Godspeed